“Dong!” The bell tolled once more, its sound refreshing and soothing to the soul—yet for Shi Hao, it was a harbinger of slaughter. This was the Curse Bell, its sinister resonance slicing into the depths of his heart. But now, its power was largely ineffective against him; the curse’s force was repelled, unable to penetrate.
The Venerables struck again, streaks of light flashing through the air as divine techniques descended. Shi Hao narrowly evaded several life-threatening assaults.
“Father, he’s lost too much blood. If this continues, he will surely perish,” Huo Ling’er fretted, urging the Fire Emperor to intervene.
“Patience,” the Fire Emperor replied gravely. “Between life and death lies great fortune. This trial may yet temper him—it’s best he overcomes this calamity on his own.”
Like the Fire Emperor, the Stone Emperor remained composed and unmoved, seated upon an ancient chariot. Only his eyes flickered with divine radiance, betraying his vigilance. Many feared these two sovereigns, which was why they had yet to act. Those nearby sensed their intense focus on the battle.
“Boom!” Flames surged as a Venerable unleashed Primordial Li Fire, crimson as molten lava, scorching the void and swiftly encircling Shi Hao. The crowd gasped—this was a natural Dao Fire, vast as an ocean. The Venerable’s origins were clearly extraordinary, perhaps a divine avian of the fire path.
To everyone’s astonishment, Shi Hao sat cross-legged, four crimson divine birds circling him, drawing the Li Fire from the void to refine its essence and nourish his flesh.
“Remarkable! He’s refining the fire’s essence for his own use,” even his enemies, who coveted his Kun Peng technique, couldn’t help but marvel at his prowess.
“Brothers, let us strike together and end this swiftly, lest he wreak further havoc,” Elder Xihua called from a safe distance in the void.
“Agreed! Let us capture and execute him without delay,” the Venerables echoed, their unity fragile as scattered sand, none willing to risk their lives alone.
Shi Hao’s situation grew dire as the pressure mounted.
“Whoosh!” A bronze sword streaked through the air, its blade-light drowning Shi Hao in a storm of slashes.
“Boom!” A golden gourd materialized, its stopper removed, releasing tendrils of mist like a black hole, attempting to swallow Shi Hao whole.
“Roar!” A Qiongqi emerged, formed from bloody runes—a tiger-ox hybrid with horns, spiked fur, and massive wings, its roar shaking the heavens.
A wooden ship crashed forth, exuding eerie black light as if carrying a horde of demons. Upon closer inspection, the vessel bore statues that pulsed with dark energy, resembling ancient deities awakening.
“Whoosh!” Golden light split the sky as a divine raptor descended, its wings spread wide—a manifestation of the legendary Lightning Falcon technique.
In mere moments, Shi Hao was besieged by attacks from all sides, the void trembling on the verge of collapse. The Domain Enforcer frowned—such concentrated force disrupted the balance, threatening to destabilize the heavens.
Shi Hao danced between death and survival, weaving through divine techniques and artifacts with desperate agility.
“Boom!” He flicked his fingers, summoning a Vermilion Bird to clash with the bronze sword, nearly melting it in the process.
“Clang!” He unleashed the Heaven-Transforming Bowl, its mouth sealing the golden gourd’s black hole.
“Roar!” Shi Hao roared, clouds of smoke billowing behind him as a Golden-Winged Roc took flight, its wingspan vast enough to blot out the sky.
“Is that the Kun Peng manifestation?”
“No—just a Golden Roc, but its power is immense!”
“Retreat! The force is that of a Kun Peng!”
Too late. The Roc tore through the Qiongqi, its runes scattering. Black spots appeared on the Roc’s body as it transformed, its power surging. It shattered the Lightning Falcon’s technique and plunged into the crowd.
“Ah!” Screams erupted as limbs were severed. The Kun Peng technique was unstoppable, critically wounding several foes. Only a Life-Death Talisman saved one from certain doom.
Shi Hao paled, his body drenched in cold sweat. Though mighty, his injuries weighed heavily upon him.
The wooden ship loomed ominously, its demonic figures wailing as it bore down on him.
“What is this?” Shi Hao muttered, sensing danger. His punch met no resistance—the ship advanced relentlessly.
“Another curse!” Shi Hao shuddered as the ship burst into black flames, its energy corroding his spirit like a descent into hell.
“Break!” He channeled the Primordial True Solution, its purest runes countering the curse.
“Boom!” The ship shattered, its flames extinguished.
“Elder Zhong, even the Ghost Ship failed? That was a top-tier curse!” Elder Xihua whispered urgently.
“Strange. He repelled it effortlessly. But I have more tricks,” a hidden elder murmured, his golden eyes gleaming.
Laughter echoed from above as the youth battling Yue Chan offered an alliance. “Brother Shi, join me, and I’ll help you slay that vile crone!”
Elder Xihua seethed but held her tongue.
“Kill!” She finally joined the fray, petals swirling lethally around her.
“Disgusting old hag, still pretending to be a maiden,” Shi Hao taunted, infuriating her further.
More Venerables emerged, siding with the revered but ruthless Elder Xihua.
Shi Hao closed his eyes, meditating amidst the storm. His armguard—a divine artifact—shielded him as he gathered strength for one final, devastating strike.
“Slay him!” Elder Xihua commanded.
Seven Venerables converged. A hidden elder ignited a cursed effigy of Shi Hao upon an altar.
“Interesting. I recall this curse from my own pursuers,” the mysterious youth mused.
“Boom!” Shi Hao stood, blood wiped from his lips, his aura erupting like a pillar of light.
Ten Heavenly Passage and Flesh Passage merged into an indestructible divine disk.
No longer holding back, he unleashed the perfected Kun Peng technique—black tides beneath him, golden flames above. A Kun fish circled his feet, while a blazing sun rose overhead, a divine bird within.
“Come! Let us end this!” Shi Hao roared.
Yin and Yang fused as the Kun Peng’s power swept outward, an all-consuming force.
“Boom!” Bodies exploded, reduced to mist. The curse rebounded, immolating its caster.
Three Venerables perished instantly. Shi Hao’s bones cracked under the strain, but he pressed on, hurling Soul-Severing Needles to ensure their demise.
Elder Xihua fled on a Void Beast hide, but Shi Hao froze the very sky, dragging her back into visibility.
“Caught!” the crowd gasped.
Without a word, Shi Hao seized her and delivered a dozen brutal slaps, shattering her teeth and humiliating her before the world.
This was no mere execution—it was retribution.
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